What's the Difference Between First Class and Business Class?

In my frequent client interactions with Yore Oyster, my boutique travel consultancy catering specifically to C-level executives and creative agencies, I get asked all the time about the differences between business class and first class. When a client asks, “Is it worth it for me to upgrade?” my answer is always the same – that the decision depends on a few key factors unique to every flight – though, admittedly, sometimes it leaves them wanting more.

In a quest to provide a better answer, I’ve broken the question down into 4 critical categories: Airport Lounges, Seats, Food & Drinks, and In-Flight Service & Amenities.We’ll investigate each of them individually to assess whether first class is really superior to business class.

Before getting into specifics, it’s crucial to know that every first class experience is unique. Without fail, airlines treat passengers flying internationally significantly better than domestic passengers, and this is only exacerbated when it comes to business class and first class flying. On top of that, the exact experience you’ll receive varies widely from airline to airline, so checking an airline’s current Skytrax rating is a good way to get a feel for how good their business and first class product will be.

AIRPORT LOUNGES

For me, a nice airport lounge makes the biggest difference between a pleasant flying experience and a poor one. Business class lounges are well-known to many travelers, since a business class ticket, frequent flyer upper-tier status, or a lounge membership such as Priority Pass will normally get you in there. Buffets are common, though their quality and selection varies widely between lounges, and drinks usually come from a well-stocked bar. First class loungesare significantly more exclusive, though once you’re in, the experience is nothing short of magical. Before a recent Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to London, I stepped into The Wing, First, Cathay’s first class lounge, and was blown away by the food selection. Not only was the buffet astounding, stocked with more options than I could dream of trying, I was also seated privately by a waitress, who gave me an additional full menu of options that weren’t available at the buffet. The drinks, naturally, were just as impressive: I hadn’t even fully entered the lounge before I was greeted by a waiter offering three different types of champagne.

The Wing First Class Lounge in HKG. Photo Credit: Cathay Pacific

Ben Schlappig, one of the most well-respected frequent flyer bloggers on the Internet, put it well when he said:

“While there are some great business class lounges out there, like the Qatar Airways Al Mourjan Lounge Doha and Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse London, I’ve never had a business class ground experience which I found to be truly personalized.”

Schlappig is absolutely right. First class lounges are alone in their propensity to go the extra mile.

SEATS

When it comes to seats, two metrics are worth noting: the width and the pitch, with pitch being the distance from a point on your seat to the same point on the seat in front of it. To find the best seats that maximize width and pitch, and with it your in-flight comfort, experts turn to SeatGuru, the best way to get seat data for any flight in the world.

SeatGuru has seat data charts that make it extremely easy to compare the best business class seats with the best first class seats on different long-haul business class flights and first class flights. Upon parsing that data, you'll see that nearly all first class seats are either lie flat or suite-style seats (91%), whereas just over half of business class seats are (57%). On those long intercontinental flights, where the difference between a recliner seat and a lie flat bed is the difference between a good night’s sleep and a restless one, this could be a deal breaker.

The living room in Etihad's The Residence. Photo Credit: Etihad Airways

Of course, some first class “seats” are head and shoulders above the rest. Singapore Airlines’ heralded Singapore Suites was the first to offer a double bed in the sky, while Etihad’s The Residence – a 3-room suite that gives you your own private living room and bathroom, along with a bedroom complete with double bed – allows passengers to take a shower at 30,000 feet.

FOOD & DRINKS

The food in business class tends to be a better version of what you find in economy. Meals arrive hot, are served with a wide selection of drinks, and they’re generally quite tasty. First class meals, though, take a serious step up. Head chefs from Michelin-starred restaurants prepare the menu, renowned sommeliers choose the wines, and airlines compete fiercely for the title of the best first class dining experience, leading some, like Singapore Airlines, to serve first class passengers both Krug Grande Cuvée and Dom Perignon 2004 alongside Calvisius caviar before the plane even takes off.

Granted, you can find some unique perks in business class as well. Korean Air, Emirates, Qatar Airways and Virgin Atlantic all have onboard bars in business class where you can catch a drink with fellow passengers, and more airlines are moving toward a more premium experience here too. As industry competition increases, food and drink is a major way for airlines to differentiate themselves and attract new passengers, so they’re throwing themselves at it in a way unlike anything we’ve seen before.

SERVICE & AMENITIES

Business class passengers receive amenities kits that are definitely a step above economy: sleep masks, skincare products, and an assortment of toiletries are the norm. First class amenity kits, though, put the business class kits to shame. They come stocked with brand name perfume for ladies and cologne for men, lip balms, shoe horns and shoe polishes, travel mirrors, and more depending on who you fly with, and they’re always packaged in a stylishly eye-catching bag. The furniture icon Eames designed the American Airlines amenity kit bags shown below, which just so happen to double as a perfect tablet case after your flight is over. And in case the amenity kit isn’t enough, most first class passengers flying overnight will receive pyjamas – usually silk – and a duvet to ensure those lengthy international flights are as comfortable as possible.

American Airlines' first class amenity kit. Photo Credit: American Airlines

As for the service quality itself, the main distinction is that in first class the service is proactive, not reactive, meaning your flight attendant will anticipate your desires even before they arise. Given that fewer passengers are opting for first class these days (it’s not cheap, after all), it’s not uncommon for a first class cabin to house just a few passengers, so you’ve essentially got a flight attendant all to yourself!

The first class flying experience is a big step above business class, scoring significantly better across all four of our metrics, though there’s one important thing to keep in mind: many companies won’t allow you to expense first class, so always check with your travel department before buying your ticket. Once you’re at the airport, though, you’ll see firsthand how monumental of a difference flying first class is.